Fairground Attraction Having a People Carrier Suspended from Two Mutually Parallel Rotatable Arms

ABSTRACT

A fairground attraction with two mutually parallel arms which are each rotatable about an axis lying at an angle to the horizontal and between which a people carrier is suspended is disclosed. The people carrier can herein be pivotable about an axis which connects the arms and be suspended from spacers lying transversely of the ends of the arms. The rotation shaft of the arms can be supported by masts which are connected by a frame. The frame can herein be embodied as a rolling chassis which can be pulled by a vehicle. The arms can be driven rotatingly in mutually synchronous manner, each by its own motor, which motors are coupled in a master-slave connection.

The invention relates to a fairground attraction comprising at least two mutually parallel arms which are each rotatable about an axis, and between which at least one people carrier is suspended. Such fairground attractions are known under the collective name of “windscreen wipers”, which refers to the movement of windscreen wipers of old commercial vehicles and buses which are mutually coupled by a linkage.

The known attraction, which can be found in amusement parks in fixed form and is also used at fairgrounds in a form which can be disassembled and transported, comprises two vertical masts which each have on the upper side a rotation shaft which is directed transversely thereof and around each of which an arm is rotatable. The ends of the two arms are connected by a beam or gondola which is pivotally suspended therefrom and on which a number of seats is formed. The seats are oriented parallel to the rotation shafts of the arms so that passengers undergo a lateral rotation movement and herein look down on the public in front of the attraction. Behind the rotating arms and the gondola there is often placed a background with an illustration and lighting, whereby the mechanical part of the attraction is hidden from view. Situated in front of the gondola is a platform on which passengers can board and disembark.

Although this type of fairground attraction was very popular for a time, partly because of the contact between the passengers and the public, this is no longer perceived as particularly exciting, even at high speeds of movement, particularly as a result of the one-sided nature of the movement. The invention therefore has for its object to provide a fairground attraction of the above described type which is more exciting and creates a greater sensation of speed and freedom than a conventional attraction. According to the invention this is achieved in such a fairground attraction in that the rotation axes of the arms are at an angle to the horizontal. By causing the arms to rotate around non-horizontal axes the people carrier or gondola with the passengers therein is in fact subjected to a three-dimensional movement instead of the two-dimensional movement of the known “windscreen wiper” attractions. A greater sense of movement is hereby achieved, even at lower speeds than the conventional “windscreen wiper” attraction.

An additional degree of freedom is further introduced when the people carrier is pivotable about an axis which connects the arms, whereby an even more spectacular movement of the people carrier becomes possible. In order to limit the loads on the construction here as much as possible, the attraction is preferably provided with means for damping and/or bounding a pivoting movement of the people carrier.

In order to create sufficient free space to allow the people carrier to move unhindered, each arm preferably has a spacer which lies substantially transversely thereof close to one of its ends and from which the people carrier is suspended. In respect of the space required for the movement, the people carrier is advantageously also suspended from the arms close to its outer ends.

For the protection of the passengers, particularly when the people carrier does not have a footboard and the legs of the passengers hang freely, the people carrier can have a guard at each outer end.

Just as in the known “windscreen wiper” attractions, the rotation shaft of each arm can be supported by a mast, wherein the masts can also be connected by a frame.

In order to enable easy transport of the fairground attraction, the frame is advantageously embodied as a rolling chassis and has means for coupling thereof to a tractive vehicle. In this case the arms preferably take a divided form and the parts are collapsible or telescopic to limit the dimensions of the attraction as far as possible for transport by road. When the people carrier is suspended from spacers, as discussed above, these spacers are then preferably collapsible.

As a result of the people carrier being present between the arms, the most compact possible collapsed position of the attraction is achieved when the parts of the one arm are movable relative to each other in a plane other than the parts of the other arm.

In order to simplify boarding and disembarking for the passengers, the fairground attraction is preferably provided with a platform which is displaceable in height direction when the arms occupy a substantially vertical rest position. This is a relatively simple solution which can be realized at low cost.

This objective can also be achieved by another, technically more complicated means, for instance when the people carrier is displaceable in height direction when the arms occupy a substantially vertical rest position. When the rotation shafts are supported by masts, this can be achieved in simple manner when a top of each mast supporting the rotation shaft is connected to a foot of the mast for pivoting about a lying axis. For an optimal stability of the people carrier during stepping on and off, the attraction can then be provided with means for fixing the people carrier during a pivoting movement of the mast tops and the rotation shafts. A rocking motion of the people carrier is effected immediately by only releasing these fixing means when the mast tops have been pivoted back to their operational position.

In order to minimize the loads on the fairground attraction during use, it is preferably provided with means for driving the arms rotatingly in mutually synchronous manner. Such a synchronous driving is realized in reliable manner when the drive means for each arm comprise a motor, and the motors are coupled in a master-slave connection. In addition or instead, the synchronization of the movement of the arms can be enhanced or effected by at least one stabilizing rod connecting the arms. Such a rod can serve to limit the loads on the people carrier, particularly when one of the motors fails.

The invention is now elucidated on the basis of two exemplary embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which corresponding components are designated with reference numerals increased by “100”, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a fairground attraction according to a first embodiment of the invention in its uppermost operating position,

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding with FIG. 1 of this embodiment of the fairground attraction in its lowest operating position,

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding with FIGS. 1 and 2 of this embodiment of the fairground attraction in its boarding and disembarking position, in which the people carrier is moved downward;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show side views of the fairground attraction of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in respectively the upper and lower operating position, and the boarding and disembarking position,

FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of a part of an alternative embodiment of the fairground attraction according to the invention in its boarding and disembarking position, in which a part of the platform is moved upward, and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the fairground attraction in the collapsed position for transport by road.

A fairground attraction 1 comprises a frame 2 on which two masts 3 are placed. Each of the masts 3 bears on its top 4 a gear ring 5 which defines a rotation axis R. According to the invention the axes R each enclose an angle α₁ with the horizontal H when fairground attraction 1 is in operation.

An arm 6, which is rotatable about axis R, is suspended from each mast 3 via gear ring 5. Each arm 6 is connected practically halfway along for rotation to mast 3 and has a free end 7, to which a counterweight 8 is fixed, and an opposite end 9. A people carrier 10 is suspended between these ends 9 of the two arms 6.

People carrier 10 is formed by a beam 11 which functions as backrest and to which are attached a number of seats 12 which are separated from each other by armrests 13. A number of head supports 14 are also mounted on beam 11. Seats 12, armrests 13 and head supports 14 together define seating for passengers. People carrier 10 is not provided here with a footboard, so that the legs of the passengers thus hang freely. This increases the sensation. Fixed to both ends of people carrier 10 is a guard 15 which protects the legs of the passengers in the outer seats from contact with arms 6. Guards 15 are here manufactured from a transparent material, for instance plastic, so as not to obstruct the view of the passengers. For reasons which will be elucidated below, guards 15 are relatively long.

People carrier 10 is not suspended directly from the ends 9 of arms 6 but from two spacers 16 lying roughly perpendicularly of arms 6. Space is hereby created between arms 6 and people carrier 10, which is necessary for the possible movements of people carrier 10. For the same reason the people carrier 10 is suspended from its outer ends, in contrast to gondolas of conventional “windscreen wiper” attractions.

People carrier 10 is suspended pivotally between spacers 16. People carrier 10 must in any case be pivotable about axes running parallel to spacers 16 in order to be able to follow the rotation movement of arms 6. In addition, people carrier 10 is pivotable in the shown embodiment about an axis A which connects the spacers 16 of both arms 6 to each other. For both these pivoting movements use could be made of a single ball joint, but in the shown embodiment two separate joints 17, 36 are provided on each side of people carrier 10. A first joint 17 between people carrier 10 and spacer 16 provides the movement about axis A, while a pivot bearing 36 between spacer 16 and arm 6 is responsible for the movement about the axis of spacer 16.

In order to prevent uncontrolled movements of people carrier 10, means can be present for damping and/or bounding the pivoting movements. The loads on the construction can hereby be limited so that the attraction 1 as a whole can have a lighter construction. Higher speeds of movement are hereby also permissible, whereby the sensation is further heightened. These damping and/or bounding means are described and shown in detail hereinbelow.

Both arms 6 are driven such that they rotate synchronously about axes R. In the shown embodiment each arm 6 is provided for this purpose with its own motor, which is built into a housing 18 in the top 4 of mast 3. Both these motors are connected as master and slave—for instance by electronic means—so that they operate in exactly the same way. Improper loads on the construction, particularly on people carrier 10, are hereby prevented. Arms 6 can optionally also be coupled by a stabilizing rod (not shown here) in order to provide an alternative to the long path of forces via pivot bearings 36, spacers 16, joints 17 and people carrier 10.

Formed in front of fairground attraction 1 is a platform 28 which is screened off by fences 29 and which serves for boarding and disembarking of the passengers. Between platform 28 and frame 2 a step-like covering 34 can also be formed, which on the one hand conceals frame 2 from view, and in addition gives staff access to the mechanical parts of fairground attraction 1. An illustrated and illuminated wall 35 can further be formed behind frame 2 to close off the fairground attraction 1 optically.

In order to simplify boarding and disembarking, people carrier 10 can be moved even further downward from the lowest position it can reach when in operation. In the shown embodiment this is achieved by tilting arms 6 in their entirety, whereby the angle α₂ with the horizontal H becomes smaller than during operation. For this purpose the top 4 of each mast 3 is connected to foot 31 thereof for pivoting about a lying shaft 30. In the mast foot 31 there is moreover arranged a hydraulic cylinder (not shown here), the upper end of which engages on top 4 via a shaft 32. Just as the motors for rotation of arms 6, the hydraulic cylinders in both masts 3 are in turn connected to each other so that both arms 6 are tilted synchronously. Provisions are furthermore made to ensure that this tilting movement can only be initiated when arms 6 are standing still in their vertical position and are blocked against rotation.

As stated, guards 15 take a relatively long form on both sides of people carrier 10. In the lowered boarding and disembarking position of people carrier 10 the bottom edges 33 of guards 15 rest on platform 28 so that people carrier 10 does not move. In the boarding and disembarking position the people carrier 10 is tilted slightly to the rear about axis A relative to spacers 16 as a result of the tilting of arms 6. People carrier 10 is fixed in this position by a brake or lock (not shown here).

In an alternative embodiment of the fairground attraction 101 (FIG. 7), it is not people carrier 110 which can be displaced downward in order to simplify boarding and disembarking but, on the contrary, a part 137 of platform 128 which can be displaced upward. Platform 128 is herein formed by a fixed part 138 which is already placed some distance above the ground G and is accessible from both sides via steps 139, and the part 137 which is displaceable in height direction and which is also embodied as steps. In the shown embodiment this stepped platform part 137 rests on two support arms 140 which are pivotally connected to frame 102 of the attraction 101 by means of hinges 141.

During operation of attraction 101 the support arms 140, and therefore step part 137, are folded down so that the movements of rotating arm 105 and people carrier 110 are not obstructed. When arms 106 and people carrier 110 are brought to a standstill in the shown lower position, support arms 140 and stepped part 137 of platform 128 are folded upward again to the shown boarding and disembarking position by drive elements (not shown here). In order to stabilize people carrier 10, bottom edges 133 of guards 115 again rest on platform part 137 in this position.

In this manner the technically complicated and therefore relatively expensive tiltable embodiment of the mast tops can be omitted.

This embodiment of fairground attraction 101 also shows the means 142 for damping and/or bounding the pivoting movement of people carrier 110. These damping and/or bounding means 142, which are also specifically intended to prevent people carrier 110 from turning full circle, here take the form of hydraulic cylinders, one end 143 of which engages in each case on spacer 116 and the other end 144 of which engages on a lever 145 connected to joint 117.

So as to nevertheless be able to fold the attraction 101 together to a compact form, masts 103 take a divided form and are provided with a hinge 130 in this embodiment.

As stated, masts 3 are situated on a frame 2 which in the shown embodiment is embodied as a rolling chassis. This chassis here takes the form of a trailer and has a part 19 which supports the masts, as well as a swan-neck 20 with a kingpin 21 for coupling the rolling chassis to a tractive vehicle (not shown here) (FIG. 8). The chassis here has three axles 22.

In order to place frame 2 on a ground surface G in stable manner during use of the fairground attraction, it is provided with two pairs of jacking arms 23, 24 which are mounted on frame 2 at one end and which each rest on a jack 25 with their free end. Both jacking arms 23 are herein connected to the frame part 19 supporting mast 3 on the front side of fairground attraction 1, where people carrier 10 is situated, while the two jacking arms 24 at the rear are each formed by a lower arm 24L, which is connected to frame 2, and an upper arm 24U, which is connected directly to one of masts 3. With a view to transport of fairground attraction 1 by road the jacking arms 23, 24 take a collapsible form. In the shown embodiment the front jacking arms 23 pivot upward on a horizontal hinge, while the rear jacking arms 24L, 24U can be pivoted on a vertical hinge to a position parallel to frame 2. For the purpose of this movement the jacking arms 23, 24 can be further provided with for instance hydraulic or mechanical drives (not shown here).

Arms 6 and spacers 16 are also collapsible in the shown embodiment. For this purpose both arms 6 take a divided form and the fixed part 6F and the movable part 6M are mutually connected by hinges 26. Spacers 16 are also connected via hinges 27 to pivot bearings 36 at the ends 9 of arms 6. In order to create sufficient space for people carrier 10 when spacers 16 are collapsed, arm parts 6M are movable in different planes. In the shown embodiment hinge 26L of left arm 6 lies in the front surface of this arm, while hinge 26R of right arm 6 lies in the side surface thereof. In the collapsed situation the parts 6F, 6M of the left arm thus lie in front of each other, and those of right arm 6 adjacently of each other. Mast tops 4 are otherwise tilted so far forward during transport due to the hydraulic cylinder protruding in mast foot 31, that rotation axes R run substantially horizontally and gear rims 5 with arms 6 thereon thus lie in a vertical plane.

The operation of fairground attraction 1 is now as follows. After passengers have boarded while people carrier 10 is in the boarding and disembarking position (FIG. 3, 6), mast tops 4 with arms 6 thereon are pivoted back to the operational position and the rotation blocking is released (FIG. 2, 5). The motors are then started, whereby arms 6 are set into rotation synchronously and in parallel around rotation axes R. In the first instance the direction of rotation of the motors can be periodically reversed so that arms 6 execute a rocking movement, the travel distances of which become increasingly large. Once people carrier 10 has reached the uppermost position (FIG. 1, 4) the motors can continue to rotate in the same direction, whereby a continuous rotation movement is obtained. This can also be reversed again at the highest point of people carrier 10. If the torque of the motors is high enough to rotate arms 6 with people carrier 10 thereon directly to the uppermost position, the above described rocking movement can of course be dispensed with.

Since rotation axes R are positioned at an angle α to the horizontal H, arms 6 move in a inclined plane so that the movement of people carrier 10 comprises three components, viz. a lateral movement, a movement from front to rear and an up and downward movement. A great sensation of speed is hereby already achieved at relatively low rotation speeds in the order of ten to thirty revolutions per minute, preferably fifteen to twenty-five and more specifically twenty-two revolutions per minute. Owing to these low required rotation speeds, motors with relatively low power can suffice, whereby the costs of fairground attraction 1 remain limited while the construction can also take a relatively light form.

In addition to the movement which people carrier 10 undergoes spontaneously due to the rotation of arms 6, it is also possible to generate an additional rocking movement around the axis A. Use can be made for this purpose of the brake or lock with which the people carrier 10 is fixed during boarding and disembarking. When this brake or lock is not released immediately when arms 6 are tilted back again to the operational position, people carrier 10 remains fixed in its backward tilted position. By eventually releasing the brake or lock at the start of the rotation movement of arms 6, people carrier 10 will thus pivot back in forward direction under the influence of gravity, whereby a rocking movement can be started immediately.

As stated, this rocking movement could on the other hand be damped, whereby a higher rotation speed of the arms and therefore a greater sensation of speed becomes possible.

Fairground attraction 1; 101 according to the invention thus provides a special sensation of movement, speed and freedom using relatively simple means.

Although the invention is described above on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto. The angle of inclination of rotation axes R could for instance also be varied during operation, whereby arms 6 would move each time in a differently inclining plane. People carrier 10 could also be provided with a drive, whereby the rocking movement around axis A is intensified and optionally a full rotation around this axis is even possible. In that case the construction would have to be strengthened and reinforced. In addition, the two synchronously operating motors could be replaced by a single motor driving both arms 6 via a suitable transmission.

The shape and dimensions of shafts 3, arms 6 and people carrier 10 could further be varied, while more or fewer masts 3 and arms 6 could also be applied. The fairground attraction 1 could also have more than one people carrier 10, for instance two people carriers suspended from arms 6 in a so-called theatre arrangement. In addition, the ends 7 of arms 6 could also be provided with a suspension for a people carrier instead of with counterweights 8. The displacement of the people carrier to the boarding and disembarking position could further also be carried out differently, for instance by moving the spacers 16 downward or telescopically retracting the mast foot 31. A different choice could also be made for the driving of the different components and the manner of collapsing for transport.

In addition, frame 2 could of course also have a fixed form when attraction 1 is used in an amusement park. Provisions such as the jacking arms and the like are then of course omitted, while arms 6 and spacers 16 do not then have to take a collapsible form either. Finally, it would even be possible in this case to do without a separate frame, and the masts could be placed directly on the ground.

The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims. 

1. Fairground attraction comprising at least two mutually parallel arms which are each rotatable about an axis and between which at least one people carrier is suspended, wherein the rotation axes of the arms are at an angle to the horizontal.
 2. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the people carrier is pivotable about an axis which connects the arms.
 3. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for at least one of damping and bounding a pivoting movement of the people carrier.
 4. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm includes a spacer which lies substantially transversely thereof close to one of its ends and from which the people carrier is suspended.
 5. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the people carrier is suspended from the arms close to its outer ends.
 6. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 5, wherein the people carrier includes a guard at each outer end.
 7. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft of each arm is supported by a mast.
 8. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 7, wherein the masts are connected by a frame.
 9. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frame is embodied as a rolling chassis and includes means for coupling thereof to a tractive vehicle.
 10. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 9, wherein the arms take a divided form and the parts are at least one of collapsible and telescopic.
 11. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spacers are collapsible.
 12. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 10, wherein the parts of the one arm are movable relative to each other in a plane other than the parts of the other arm.
 13. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a platform which is displaceable in a height direction when the arms occupy a substantially vertical rest position.
 14. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the people carrier is displaceable in a height direction when the arms occupy a substantially vertical rest position.
 15. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 7, wherein a top of each mast supporting the rotation shaft is connected to a foot of the mast for pivoting about a lying axis.
 16. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for fixing the people carrier during a pivoting movement of the mast tops and the rotation shafts.
 17. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for driving the arms rotatingly in a mutually synchronous manner.
 18. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 17, wherein the drive means for each arm comprise a motor, and the motors are coupled in a master-slave connection.
 19. Fairground attraction as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one stabilizing rod connecting the arms. 